5 ms·

> almost wish Uber/Lyft were more expensive (and that money went to drivers). I'd use them less, but I'd be happier about using it when I did. You can do this

• deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
• jfk13 8y ago
  I think the point is that if they were more expensive (and that money went to drivers), then users might think twice about summoning a car when they don't really need one, and give more consideration to more traffic- and environmentally-friendly alternatives. There's also the possibility that drivers might be able to make a reasonable living without feeling pushed to cut corners in maintenance, rest, etc. Just giving tips to drivers can help out the individual drivers who benefit from them, but it doesn't shift the balance for the ecosystem as a whole.
• dorfsmay 8y ago
  Tips are an after the fact, unilateral, non negotiated contract. The only function they provide is a power trip. They should be discouraged. Industry where it has been traditional to tips take the freedom to cut nominal pay, and let customers on a power trip decide for the worker salary. They should not exist in the 21st century.
  • codyb 8y ago
    Maybe that's so, and I support a worker's right to earn a living wage as much as the next guy, but getting back to the states after being in Europe for three months I'm seriously impressed by how much more attentative to my needs servers are here. And you know what? It's really nice. The only difference seems to be the tipping culture.
    • Kye 8y ago
      Consider another possibility: people in the US are more afraid of losing their jobs than people in Europe. People on the other side of the order are often one missed or shorted paycheck away from a cascade of late fees, reactivation fees, and overdraft fees with no way out. Even filing for bankruptcy costs time, energy, and money. I doubt people in places with functional social safety nets worry about what will happen if they have one bad day where they can't fake a chipper attitude.
      • jetcata 8y ago
        I agree it’s more likely this. And although service is better in the US, it does make me feel crappy because I know the only reason it’s better is because they so desperately need the tips.
        • codyb 8y ago
          Unemployments pretty high in the parts of Europe I was in. Whereas unemployments very low in the US. I know there's more emphasis placed on working here in America, but it seems like the employed would want to keep their jobs, no? Especially if jobs are scarce. I also think it's harder to fire people in Europe. But I'm not certain it's this constant unwavering fear of job loss that drives the better service, I'd put more emphasis on the variable tip than that. But if the only reason it's better is because of the tips then how do we get good service without them? Because there's not much tipping in Europe and in the eight months over two trips spent in five countries there, service just seemed to stink. Maybe there's quite a few cultural differences, it may be that Americans move quicker in general (a slower pace seems common in some European places where people like to just sit at cafes and relax), plus tipping, plus economic anxiety (although I think a lot of Europeans must feel that, Sicily's unemployment is something like 20%), plus attitudes toward work in general, plus the ease with which you may be let go could all add up to create the differences I've experienced. But I much prefer eating in restuarants here.
          • dorfsmay 8y ago
• thrownblown 8y ago
  You should have to tip a dollar for every star you wish to rate your driver.
  • acct1771 8y ago
    So good drivers get bad reviews when people are cheap, not when they're bad drivers? Eh...
    • thrownblown 8y ago
      Driver's get to rate the cheap (bad) customers appropriately.